The Dawning of a New Day or… Spiritual Springtime(Photo by Michael Clark)

Actually, I was searching for something else on the net as I suddenly found an exposition on the glory of God by Alexander MacLaren. I could not stop reading although I can hardly relate to all these wonderful blessings he wrote about right now. Even while deeply suffering, I am still sitting here, knowing that which I read there is the truth. Dear brothers and sisters, have you ever heard someone preach or teach on the possibility of being glorified even during this life on earth? I am speaking spiritually here, of course! However, as far as I can see it, you often only find Christian writings about justification and/or sanctification. And you also hear that sanctification will not be finished unless we are in heaven after our physical death. Yet is that biblical truth too? Although the Bible speaks about the necessity to die once (Heb 9:27), we also have Jesus’ mysterious promise he confided to Martha whose brother Lazarus had died before,

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:25-26 ESV)

We read, “… and everyone who lives and believes IN me shall never die.” (Emphasis in caps mine) Just now, while emphasizing the preceding sentence, I suddenly “knew” that those believers who died to their old self nature and were put IN(TO) Christ may already share eternal resurrection life here and now! In fact, they will NEVER die again!! That does not mean they won’t shed their physical shell, their mortal remains, like all other human beings, but they won’t have to endure any separation from the Spirit of God any longer. Indeed, they are already sitting with Christ in heavenly places wherever they might be, even on this earth! The gate into an open Heaven has opened up and they are able to see God in ALL things. This is THE ABUNDANT LIFE that Christ wants to bestow on us (cf. Jn 10:10)!

Any other ‘life’ outside of Him is mere existence, an existence full of struggles, pains, fears and doubts. Granted, a few happy moments too. But the sting of death hinders us to enjoy life at its fullest because we fear the future. We can suppress our fears by ignoring them, we can try to numb the pain of an insecure existence with hobbies or activities of all kinds (religious too), with drugs, alcohol, love affairs, or by clinging to pipe dreams, but we cannot drown out the nagging fear of losing it all, particularly those people whom we love the most! However, if we have finally died to our old self nature, the sting of death is gone (see 1 Cor 15:55). We cannot be separated from God anymore (Rom 8:38-39) and IN God, finally all things are ours. Eventually, here is one part of MacLaren’s notes on Romans chapter 5, verses 2 – 4. If you want to read more, just follow the link beneath the excerpt. The emphasis in caps below, once again, was added by me.

Now, I suppose I need not remind you that that phrase ‘the glory of God’ is, in the Old Testament, used especially to mean the light that dwelt between the cherubim above the mercy-seat; the symbol of the divine perfections and the token of the Divine Presence. The reality of which it was a symbol is the total splendour, so to speak, of that divine nature, as it rays itself out into all the universe. And, says Paul, the true hope of the Christian man is nothing less than that of that glory he shall be, in some true sense, and in an eternally growing degree, the real possessor. It is a tremendous claim, and one which leads us into deep places that I dare not venture into now, as to the resemblance between the human person and the Divine Person, notwithstanding all the differences which of course exist, and which only a presumptuous form of religion has ventured to treat as transitory or insignificant. Let me use a technical word, and say that it is no pantheistic absorption in an impersonal Light, no Nirvana of union with a vague whole, which the Apostle holds out here, but it is the closest possible union, personality being saved and individual consciousness being intensified. It is the clothing of humanity with so much of that glory as can be imparted to a finite creature. That means perfect knowledge, perfect purity, perfect love, and that means the dropping away of all weaknesses and the access of strange new powers, and that means the end of the schism between ‘will’ and ‘ought,’ and of the other schism between ‘will’ and ‘can.’ It means what this Apostle says: ‘Whom He justified them He also glorified,’ and what He says again, ‘We all, beholding as in a glass’-or rather, perhaps, mirroring as a glass does-’the glory, are changed into the same image.’

The very heart of Christianity is that the Divine Light of which that Shekinah was but a poor and transitory symbol has ‘tabernacled’ amongst men in the Christ, and has from Him been communicated, and is being communicated in such measure as earthly limitations and conditions permit, and that these do point on assuredly to perfect impartation hereafter, when ‘we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.’ The Three could walk in the furnace of fire, because there was One with them, ‘like unto the Son of God.’ ‘Who among us shall dwell with the everlasting fire,’ the fire of that divine perfection? They who have had introduction by Christ into the grace, and who will be led by Him into the glory.

Now, brethren, it seems to me to be of great importance that this, the loftiest of conceptions of that future life, should be the main aspect under which we think of it. It is well to speak of rest from toil; it is well to speak of all the negations of present unfavourable, afflictive conditions which that future presents to us. And perhaps there is none of the aspects of it which appeals to deeper feelings in ourselves, than those which say ‘there shall be no night there,’ ‘there shall be no tears there, neither sorrow nor sighing’; ‘there shall be no toil there.’ But we must rise above all that, for our heaven is to live in God, and to be possessors of His glory. Do not let us dwell upon the symbols instead of the realities. Do not let us dwell only on the oppositions and contradictions to earth. Let us rather rise high above symbols, high above negations, to the positive truth, and not contented with saying ‘We shall be full of blessedness; we shall be full of purity; we shall be full of knowledge,’ let us rather think of that which embraces them all-we shall be full of God.

As I was thinking about what it means to have finally reached that immensely blessed state as a believer, I thought that you could also say we are redeemed or saved then. The whole process of salvation begins when we start to believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and it ends when we have been glorified and can see Him as He really is, from a heart that has been completely purified in order to be able to encounter the Eternal God on His Holy mountain (Tabor). Although it might seem a bit odd, I thought I could attach the poem I wrote for Michael Clark’s blog as I posted my very first comment on A Wilderness Voice back in December 2013 since my rhymes refer to exactly what I just tried to describe above. Here you are.

The Light of Salvation

His Life eternal here on earth
Who sees its beauty and its worth?
Although our eyes are opened now
It’s dimly view, through glass somehow

Into His realm, into His face
Beholding Him, receiving grace
Empowered by His Love, so true
To share His blessings, no one knew

Before God made them manifest
Giving His Spirit to these blessed
To you and me, to everyone
Who have believed in Christ, the Son

The Savior who leads all of these
Who see His heart while on their knees
Through wilderness, though dry and hot
Unto a mountain we knew not

Where we can share His glory too
All brothers, sisters, me and you
This mountain I am speaking of
With Tabor’s light which from above

Will draw our hearts so near to God
That we won’t evermore applaud
A man, a thing, that’s less than Him
Our hearts will merely be a hymn

That praises God all day and night
Beholding now His glory’s sight
That frees from any fear and pain
And from this world which is so vain

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28 thoughts on “The Glory of God… is ours!”

Nothing like high expectations–Whenever I talk to people who are contemplating marriage I will tell them not to raise their expectations too high for each other but let them to learn how to serve each other–in bed and out–however with Christ as our husband and Him being as glorious as He is I think your view of glorious living in the here and now is a good expectation.

“Marriage is an earthly thing,” as Martin Luther once said. Our old nature will always be disappointed when the first love and the rose-colored glasses are gone. But our new nature that has been transferred into His kingdom will know a supernatural and endless love that is beyond anything one might be able to describe.

I am glad you saw the depth of MacLaren’s exposition and that this post spoke to you, Michael.

The Bible verse you quoted surely nails it. Oh, how we long to be IN Christ continually, not on and off as it has been for years, right? Sharing His resurrection power is truly an amazing experience, but dying to self is still something I do not like at all. 😦 These permanent cutting heart pains and deep sadness can be tormenting. The cross has agony, hasn’t it…?

You two are amazing!!!! My name STACEY means Of the Resurrection. One who shall rise again. Just how many times do I have to rise again? I wish I could stay there myself. The way you explain things make so much sense as to all the trials, pains, and agony that I myself have gone through! UGH! But Susanne? While we are experiencing the deep gurroral pains we can cling on to that hope of rising again and that is what I must do. It is easy to forget though in the midst.

Stacey, you asked “How many times must we rise again?” Paul wrote that we are to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him.
I had a pastor once who said that the problem with living sacrifices is that they can always climb down off the altar! I think that when God quits seeing us twitching and thrashing about and complaining about His hand being upon us, that is when He knows the job is done. Or as the saying goes, “Stick a fork in him. I don’t think he is done,yet.”
Bless you, dear sister. You are going to make it.

Yes, Susanne, the cross has agony in it for sure. Yes, it requires much of anyone who would be HIS disciple. He said to do so we must take up OUR crosses. His cross dealt with our sins, but the cross He gives us deals with our flesh, the SOURCE of our sin nature.

Susanne, please bear with me. I have been asking our Father why you have to suffer so much. Jesus said that those who have been given much are required much. I have never known another Christian that has had so many wonderful signs, dreams, visions and personal encounters with Jesus and the Father as you have been given. I also have never known one who has suffered so much pain on an ongoing basis as you. I think, as it was with Paul, you have been given “a thorn in your flesh” because of the abundance of the revelations Father has given you. Just a thought, dear sister.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, since you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1Pet 4:12-13, KJ2000)

I believe your thoughts are right, Michael. John of the Cross said a similar thing in his book ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’. He said that the depth and pain are not the same for everyone. But same as to the glory… the darker the night, the brighter the day afterwards.

This as usual coming from you Susanne is so beautiful and timely. As you well know what I shared intimately with you my struggles recently and your faithfulness to share back with me in which was indeed deep as I was so very afraid to have that return to me. I had to bookmark that specific article by TAS for a later time when I could be a little stronger mentally and spiritually to possibly read at another time.

But this statement of your blog which rings true for me for oh so many years just made my insides leap for joy!

And, says Paul, the true hope of the Christian man is nothing less than that of that glory he shall be, in some true sense, and in an eternally growing degree, the real possessor.

That is the hope and glory that truly does keep me going no matter what surrounds me. And yes I believe we can experience that here and now however briefly and become willing (at least for me) to lay aside all malice and shake off all that uneasiness and just remember the promises that our Precious Savior revealed to us from years gone by. To hang on to those things as the world carries on with all the calamaties that do not belong to us.

Yes those glorious dreams from years gone by…. My New Glorified body which I have yet to receive but also during my struggles give me the HOPE to Carry On the Highway! Yes My Heavenly Husband is whom I shall live for and shake off all others! “Spring forth” arising from death. BTW, My birthday is on the First Day of Spring. And I have told Michael this too about my Whale dream from years gone by, He has become a much better friend to me these days. I feel more alive. But that is today. Tomorrow I don’t know. But in the last 48 hours I feel much more relaxed and peaceful. And learning if there is strife going on around me I can simply disappear and disengage. (Even turn my hearing aids off) So glad to be deaf sometimes.

His Mercy Endureth Forever!!!

I love you Susanne! You too Michael!!!! But more than that I love My Heavenly Father and Husband who has promised me the Holy Spirit Shall be With Me. And I so await for My New Glorified Body. Oh and you mentioned that we will give praises day and night which I had been doing as of late in the last 48 hours or so. I am dirt poor in the flesh but I am rich in the Spirit! Surely Goodness shall follow me!

I am relieved to hear that you have been doing much better lately, dear Stacey. Thanks for edificating words!

It is true that we do not know how we will be doing tomorrow, or even in the next few minutes. God can be very surprising and often times He gives us a lot of strength and good times in His presence before the next and deeper trial has to be met by us. The apostle Peter told us,

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Pt 1:6-9 ESV)

I wish I could say that I love God and Jesus, my sister. But the closer God has drawn me toward Himself, the brighter His light in me has become, too, and I had to realize that I do not and cannot love Him on my own. Meanwhile it is enough for me to know that He loves me like Paul said here,

“And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20 ESV)

I wish I could say that I love God and Jesus, my sister. But the closer God has drawn me toward Himself, the brighter His light in me has become, too, and I had to realize that I do not and cannot love Him on my own. Meanwhile it is enough for me to know that He loves me like Paul said here,

“And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20 ESV)

You took the words right out of my mouth! But I guess I don’t yet realize that I become brighter except in the reactions I see in others towards me. For example my current roommate’s 87 yr old aunt is in rehabilitation after I firmly told my roommate that she needs to go to the hospital because of an injury and the old woman looked at me yesterday after a visitation to her with this genuine love in her eyes and she said I love you in english to me. She is Cuban. I am so glad she went to the hospital because now she is recovering so nicely and looks so beautiful than when I first met her. And another woman with Aspergers is being drawn to me as well because I lift her up when others around her make her upset. Now I am babysitting her cat for 2 weeks.

Then off to Florida at the end of the month to babysit for a month. Lord keep me on the upside for the time being.

I hope you will forgive my recent absence. My computer finally gave up the ghost after 10 years of faithful service. I am in the process of “breaking in” a new one which is to say the new PC is in the process of breaking me. Oh, did I say breaking (LOL)?

But seriously, I was struck by your statement, Susanne, that those in Christ are “already sitting with Christ in heavenly places.” This assertion makes total sense if we realize the God is outside space and time.

Covenant language is frequently in the present tense, in recognition of the fact that God’s promises will — without doubt — be fulfilled. The present becomes the future, and vice versa. The two are one and same from God’s perspective. I think it is one reason He can view us as sanctified, while we are still in the process of sanctification.

MacLaren’s phrase “end of the schism between ‘will’ and ‘ought’ ” also, drew my attention. What an immense relief that will be for those of us impatient with the slow (and painful) process of sanctification.

Your poem was a lovely cap to the post! Thank you, as always, Susanne, for your profound insights.

Oh, I am sorry to hear your about problems with your computer, dear Anna. 😦 But there is nothing to forgive at all. I have been on the net quite rarely due to personal problems and severe lack of inspiration.

Yes, all things are already fulfilled in the I AM; only we as miserable human beings struggle with impatience and then some…

I posted this sweet comment by you, though, dear Stacey. Indeed, I was not doing well… struggled for many hours today (and not only today) with Satanic attacks until 22 minutes ago. Now I have begun to feel better…

You have a great heart, dear sister! May God bless you too, immensely! 🙂

I just love you so much because you have no Idea how much help I have received from you and Michael understanding and getting more clarity into what has been wrong with me for several years! As a matter of fact I know without a shadow of doubt that you two MUST BE ANGELS grabbing hold of this here ANGEL to HEAL me of that Mental AGONY that I have endured for quite a few years. Now I feel more inclined to walk in obedience to crush those things within me that I needed to put down once and for all.

However may I remind you of this. And it just may be true of us. But I can’t feed that all the time lest I get a big ego and God has to knock me down again.

Hebrews 13:2King James Version (KJV)

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

I used to sell flowers on the street corners of Detroit when I was 17. This poor old lady came walking up to me and asked how much I was selling the roses for. (I worked for someone else) and these roses didn’t look all that great. Supposed to be 3.00 a bouquet. I told her I would sell her a bouquet for 2.00. She bought a bouquet and she prayed that I would sell all my flowers within an hour. And then she proceeded to pick up all the dead roses I threw out because they just weren’t sellable to me. My heart swelled up immensely for this woman as I watched her walk away until I saw her no more. Lo and Behold! Sold out within the hour! Boss was mad a little because I sold them cheaper but in my heart they were practically dead. He got over it. Haha. That love I felt for that woman could very well been an angel. So therefore I try to be mindful of strangers.

I love you! Shake it all off. Go into battle, rest, and shake it off!!! Wow!

Never know!!! I know I dreamt myself as such. I didn’t have wings but a long white robe without hearing aids and glasses. I have appeared to others in that manner too, so I have been told. I was born in the City of Lost Angels (Los Angeles) and I used to joke around that at least one good angel came out of there.

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
(John 3:16-17 ESV)

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